Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to assess the association of maternal oral health literacy (OHL) with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 223 mothers and their 6-9-year...

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Main Authors: Mobina Marandi, Azadeh Babaei, Zahra Momeni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05942-2
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author Mobina Marandi
Azadeh Babaei
Zahra Momeni
author_facet Mobina Marandi
Azadeh Babaei
Zahra Momeni
author_sort Mobina Marandi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives This study aimed to assess the association of maternal oral health literacy (OHL) with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 223 mothers and their 6-9-year-old children who were selected by convenience sampling. The OHL of the mothers was evaluated by the Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) while the dental caries status of the children was assessed by the CAST index. Data were analyzed by the independent t-test, linear and logistic regression, and Spearman and Pearson’s correlation coefficients (alpha = 0.05). Results Of 223 children, 51.6% were males. The mean age of the children was 7.25 ± 1.02 years. Mothers with a higher educational level (P = 0.01) and socioeconomic status (P = 0.02) had higher OHL. Optimal oral health behavior of the mothers was significantly associated with their higher OHL, and a lower rate of caries in their children (P < 0.05). The mean OHL score of the mothers was 12.42 ± 2.78, and their OHL had a significant inverse association with primary molar (P < 0.00) and permanent first molar (P = 0.01) caries in their children. Also, the rate of primary molar (P = 0.01 and P = 0.00, respectively) and permanent first molar (P = 0.02 and P < 0.00, respectively) caries was significantly lower in children of working mothers, and those with a higher educational level. Conclusion The maternal OHL was significantly associated with the dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the CAST index.
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spelling doaj-art-a678debf69364eea8cf73823c6e935df2025-08-20T02:16:07ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-04-0125111110.1186/s12903-025-05942-2Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) indexMobina Marandi0Azadeh Babaei1Zahra Momeni2Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical SciencesCommunity Oral Health Department, School of Dentistry, Alborz University of Medical SciencesCommunity Oral Health Department, School of Dentistry, Alborz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Objectives This study aimed to assess the association of maternal oral health literacy (OHL) with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 223 mothers and their 6-9-year-old children who were selected by convenience sampling. The OHL of the mothers was evaluated by the Oral Health Literacy-Adults Questionnaire (OHL-AQ) while the dental caries status of the children was assessed by the CAST index. Data were analyzed by the independent t-test, linear and logistic regression, and Spearman and Pearson’s correlation coefficients (alpha = 0.05). Results Of 223 children, 51.6% were males. The mean age of the children was 7.25 ± 1.02 years. Mothers with a higher educational level (P = 0.01) and socioeconomic status (P = 0.02) had higher OHL. Optimal oral health behavior of the mothers was significantly associated with their higher OHL, and a lower rate of caries in their children (P < 0.05). The mean OHL score of the mothers was 12.42 ± 2.78, and their OHL had a significant inverse association with primary molar (P < 0.00) and permanent first molar (P = 0.01) caries in their children. Also, the rate of primary molar (P = 0.01 and P = 0.00, respectively) and permanent first molar (P = 0.02 and P < 0.00, respectively) caries was significantly lower in children of working mothers, and those with a higher educational level. Conclusion The maternal OHL was significantly associated with the dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the CAST index.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05942-2Oral healthHealth literacyMothersChildDental caries
spellingShingle Mobina Marandi
Azadeh Babaei
Zahra Momeni
Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index
BMC Oral Health
Oral health
Health literacy
Mothers
Child
Dental caries
title Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index
title_full Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index
title_fullStr Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index
title_full_unstemmed Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index
title_short Association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6-9-year-old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment (CAST) index
title_sort association of maternal oral health literacy with dental caries status of 6 9 year old children according to the caries assessment spectrum and treatment cast index
topic Oral health
Health literacy
Mothers
Child
Dental caries
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05942-2
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